It is hard to believe that the 2-year anniversary of the Green Monster is coming up on January 20th!
In January 2009, I felt a huge void in my life. I was unhappy with my career and I was often up late at night until 3 or 4 in the morning worrying about work. I dragged all day long and I was turning into someone I didn’t recognize anymore. I started blending green vegetables in my blender after reading about Kris Carr’s green juices. While I didn’t have a juicer, I did have a blender, and I was excited to blend my green ‘juice’ any way that I could.
In my Story of the Green Monster post, I explained:
Determined to feel alive once again, I crammed the healthiest foods into my blender and I blended my little heart out. Of course, the first few attempts looked horrific and they tasted no better. But, I didn’t care. I drank every last drop of those green monsters before I made the long commute to work each morning. The green monster not only gave me energy, but it represented something much deeper than that- inner peace and self-love. I knew that the stress I had put myself through over the past few years was nothing short of damaging to every cell in my body. I created the Green Monsters as a way to take time out for my health. Even if I knew it was going to be a hellish day, drinking my Green Monster in the morning provided me with a sense of calm in my life.
This was one of my first concoctions:
No almond milk, just kale, an English cucumber, and baby carrots. lol. It was scary to say the least!
Thankfully, my Green Monsters have improved greatly since those initial days.
On January 26, 2009, I gave my two weeks notice at my job. It was a very, very bad week for me and I was at an all-time low in my life. I drank those green monsters every single morning despite everything going on. I imagined that I was Popeye with superhuman strength. And boy did I need it.
I still receive a lot of emails and tweets from people who have just tried their first green monster. Many people have challenged themselves to drink Green Monsters in 2011 and I’m always excited to hear about other’s experiences! The most frequent message I receive is, ‘I thought they looked so gross, but they actually taste so delicious! Now I am hooked.’
I am also asked a lot what my classic go-to recipe is so I thought it would be fun to do a post on my most frequently enjoyed Green Monster recipe.
This is a recipe that I keep coming back to again and again and it never fails me.
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Classic Green Monster Smoothie
Yield
2 cups (500 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
To this day, Green Monsters are one of my favourite drinks for glowing skin and increased energy. If you are newbie, feel free to start off with baby spinach since its taste is undetectable, but I encourage you to experiment with kale, romaine lettuce, or other leafy greens as well. Just be sure to use a sturdy high-speed blender that can handle the task of blending thick greens. If your blender is on the weaker side, stick with spinach as it blends more easily.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 mL) almond milk or other non-dairy milk
- 1 cup destemmed kale leaves or baby spinach
- 1 large ripe frozen banana, chopped into chunks
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) almond butter or peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 scoop of your favourite protein powder (optional)
- 2 to 3 ice cubes
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
When I am feeling a little frisky, I love to add in some powders too! I keep Navitas Maca powder, Vega Shake & Go, and Amazing Grass Wheat Grass on hand whenever the budget allows.
Yesterday I added into the classic mix: 1 tsp Maca, 1 tbsp Vanilla Almond Shake & Go, and 1/2 scoop wheatgrass powder. It was my first time trying Vega Vanilla Almond and I thought it was pretty good, but I greatly prefer the Choc-O-lot flavour. I love making a Chocolate-Mint GM using Vega’s Choc-O-Lot and some fresh mint leaves.
Add your liquid in first. This just helps the blender do its job better.
Next add in your powders, chia seeds or ground flax, and your nut butter:
Now add the greens. I use two handfuls of whatever green I have on hand. I most often use spinach, but I also like to use red or green kale now that my Vita-Mix can handle it.
Finally, add the banana. The weight helps pack all the ingredients down!
Blend away until smooth!
I added in 2 large ice cubes and blended some more.
Pour into a glass and enjoy!
I love my Glass Dharma straw.
Mmm, this one is absolutely delicious. Creamy, sweet, smooth, and loaded with nutrients!
I’m always asked how I can drink smoothies during the cold winter months and my answer is easy:
I often drink Green Monsters following my workout when I am often craving something liquid and cold.
I’m also always asked if you can taste the spinach and the answer is no. =) Kale, on the other hand…YES (unless you make it super sweet to overpower the bitter quality of the kale).
Good to the last drop!
Other Mentionables:
1) Need more encouragement to eat your veggies? Check out this article: ‘Want a Golden Glow? Don’t Bother with a Suntan- Eat Your Greens Instead.’
2) My Winter 2011 training plan is now up on my Races page. I will be talking about this in more detail soon!
3) Check out these 30 new Green Monster reader recipes on GMM.
Are you a smoothie or ‘Green Monster’ fan? What’s your favourite go-to recipe?
Random question, where do you get your glass straws– glass dharma? What size and diameter are they? I think I’m going to order me some, as I HATE using those plastic straws!
Yes they are Glass Dharma :) I think it is the largest straw they have :)
i just had my first green monster today and i loved it! i have to admit i was skeptical, but i took my first sip and i am hooked. i emailed my sister the virgin monster recipe and i’m hoping she will like it just as much! i had one for breakfast and not only did it give me great energy to start my day with, it was really satisfying. starting the day off with something so healthy sets you up to make healthy choices the rest of the day. thanks so much for sharing and inspiring!
So glad to hear this!
Hi Angela, have you ever tried using frozen spinach (those blocks you find in the freezer section) in a Green Monster, and if so, does it work as well? I tend to buy fresh greens less frequently in the winter and the idea of having a stock of frozen bananas & spinach on hand is appealing.
Second day of monsters. Yum. I am using coconut milk and adding a few raw almonds which does make for a slightly crunchy rather than a smoothie!!! Oh and as I dont have a blender and am using my food processor I find adding the liquid last means less all over the bench top!!
I did it, I tried one! I did the classic version (though minus the chia seeds) and it is fabulous! You can’t taste the spinach at all. Much, much yummier than the spirulina in OJ I used to force down.
I made this today, minus the flax, and it was delicious!
Angela! I am hooked! I have vowed to myself to do my own little ’30 Day GM Challenge’….
Have you ever used bunches of spinach (adult spinach vs. baby spinach that is bagged)?
that is great!
yes I have used bunched…I find the flavour is a bit stronger so I tend to use a bit less
I am not going to lie, I think I am a green monster addict. Two days in a row I have indulged in TWO! Loving the Chia Seeds, by the way!
I made the Classic this morning for breakfast, and I loved it! I’ve been attempting green smoothies of my own but have never been quite able to get the mix right. This was wonderful. Thanks for sharing the recipe with those of us who are new to the blog!
Hey Angela!
Some questions for you, please?:
Which Vitamix model did you get?
Do you know where it’s sold in Canada? (i looked online but i couldn’t find anyplaces besides Ontario.)
What food processor do you use? or do you just use the Vitamix?
If you can help, it’s much appreciated, I’m looking for a good blender and food processor and I trust and value your opinion.
I have a question! Can I make a big batch of a green monster and keep it in my fridge? Will it stay good thru out the week?
You can make it the night beforehand, but it doesnt keep longer than about 1 day. Hope this helps!
Hey there, I tried my first Green Monster this morning. I had Kale in the fridge so I used that. My twin 3 yr olds helped me make it and instantly made themselves green mustaches and were asking for more. I am going to have to make double batches of this so that I can have some and they can too. What a great way to get myself back on track to a healthy ME.
Im happy to hear this! :)
drinking my first! love it! :)
I was wasting away on twitter trying to find something to cure my boredom – and ZANG – someone I follow tweeted this post. Now, I am not quite as bored. Thanks for posting nice material. – Frisbee
Do you know what the nutritional information is for this shake? Looks delicious–can’t wait to try!
I *finally* made my first green monster last week and OMG, it was delicious! I’m sad that I waited this long, but now I can’t stop making them. Thank you so much for all of the delicious vegan recipes – you’re one of my main sources for vegan ideas!
I make similar green monsters. Thank you for the inspiration to eat healthier foods and becoming a healthier person. I check your site everyday to see whats new. Although I have much more work to do to improve my diet, this always gives me great inspiration to try and stay on track. Your amazing!
Can’t go wrong with such tasty ingredients! I am a die-hard smoothie girl thanks to the vitamix, but for some reason no matter how tasty green smoothies might be, I have to force myself to choke them down because I am repulsed by the colour. I never end up finishing one. You inspire me to keep trying though! Maybe all I need is an opaque cup with a lid.
haha Ive heard from readers who have to drink it from an opaque cup! worth a shot :)
I love this smoothie so much! I have been having it for the past few months since I saw it, I swear I am becoming addicted, haha :)
I’ve tried my Green Monster Smoothie using spinach, peanut butter, mango, skim milk and banana. It is GREAT! My family loves them. Now I’m going to try adding flax or wheat germ to it.
I make this in the morning I just didnt know they were called green monsters!!! lol I have recently gone on a vegan diet. And I have to tell you, I feel great. I have never had this much energy. I have been on it for 18 days, and I havent had one headache (usually get at least 3-4 a week) or a hot flash (menopause) since I started plus my fibromyalgia feels better. I have also started an exercise program of walking (at least 1-2 miles) per day, 3 sets of sit ups and push ups per day and weight lifting 2x a week. Words can not express how good I feel. I have done alot of research on vegan diets and recipes and I havent fixed anything that I havent liked. I even made my own “cheese”, it even shredded. :-)
Hey Tricia, that is awesome to hear! Congrats on all your wonderful changes.